“You can’t always agree on matters of taste, but the quality level is just non-negotiable.” – Brunello Cucinelli

Brunello Cucinelli’s name has been popping up everywhere. If you love the finer things in life than you’ve probably heard his name before. For most, the name might have been dismissed due to the high costs of his luxury ready-to-wear fashion line. For reference, four Louis Vuitton Neverfull MM bags are much more affordable than the average price of a Cucinelli suit. 

• 

• 

A little background… He was born near Solomeo in 1953, and grew up in a house with no plumbing or electricity. He had no money when he started his business. In an interview recently he said, “We were farmers, so I did not have even a dollar in my pocket.”

He has an interesting background as he was raised in poverty and grew up to design for the rich and become wealthy himself. But what is the most impactful about his story is the mission of his company and the treatment of his employees – “To produce fashion in the most ethical way possible, without being harmful or disrespectful towards people or the environment.”

The Cucinelli fashion house is more than a company appreciating their employees. He has compassion for his workers which comes from when he was a little boy and how he saw his father was treated everyday at work. Cucinelli calls all of this a “humanistic enterprise in the world of industry.” 

His philosophy on overtime – it’s forbidden. Working after 5:30 pm is not allowed as he believes that working too many hours will “steal your soul.” He advocates a balance of “mind, soul and work.” And so, at precisely 1 pm every day, the entire workforce heads to the company dining hall for a mandatory 90 minute lunch.

He donates 20% of his profits through the Brunello Cucinelli Foundation. He has been described as a “philosopher-designer” and “part businessman, part philosopher and part monk.”  His belief and mindset is to act as guardians of creation.

No matter how laid-back and serene the label’s style appears, there’s always a luxurious edge to it. Cucinelli said, “For me, it’s always synonymous with excellence: supreme quality, perfect execution, and exquisite artisanal craftsmanship.

• 

Not only are there more billionaires now than at any time in history, but they are richer than ever before. Almost from the start of his career, Cucinelli decided they would be his clientele. Maybe this is the secret to how he made the Forbes list. The rich understand the rich. Cucinelli’s brand has worked out very well and he has said, “The results have actually been more positive than I thought”.

“I was told that everybody was going to be tough on me. We’ve had a very positive ride so far.”